Ironing machine



Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LE ROY C. SCHENCK, F MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TROY LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE IRONING MAoniNE Application filed February 4, 1929. Serial No. 337,347.

This invention relates to devices for applying pressure to rolls, particularly to rolls used in laundry ironing machines.

It is an object of my invention to provide means for applying equal pressure to both ends of one ironing roll, or to the several rolls of one machine.

More particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a pressure means for laundry rolls which will maintain an exact pressure at all times and will require a small number of moving parts and consequently few repairs.

Chest type ironers have in the past been provided with spring means for pressing the ironing rolls against the cooperating ironing surfaces, such spring means serving to apply pressure at the roll bearings. This arrangement is open to the objection that it is substantially impossible to provide springs which will be sufliciently uniform to give the same amount of pressure with the same de gree of compression. In order to overcome this disadvantage, ironers have been provided with air pressure devices utilizing a cylinder and piston for each bearing, all of the cylinders being connected to a common air source so that all pistons would be subjected to the same pressure, whereby equalization.

. of the bearing pressures is assured. This type of construction has been satisfactory to a certain extent, but is open to the objection that constant attention is required in order to prevent the cylinders from leaking. If the cylinders leak to any great ex tent, there is a possibility of the pressure supplied to the various bearings being unbalanced, and furthermore, pistons and cylinders require lubrication which necessitates 0 further attention.

In accordance with my invention, I avoid the disadvantages of the cylinder and piston type of pressure applying means while retaining all of the advantages thereof by 6 utilizing expansible metal bellows which in operation require no attention whatever either for adjustment or lubrication. By utilizing metal bellows, the action of which is always constant, I insure that the pressure applied to the bearings will always be equal and not subject to variations after a period of use. All of these metal bellows are connected to a common manifold which is supplied with fiuid under pressure from any suitable source. As all of the bellows are connected to the same line, absolute equality of pressureis insured and this equality will be maintained even after a long period of use, for the moving parts are not subjected to wear which would tend to vary the pressure exerted by the bellows.

The objects and disadvantages already mentioned, as well as others, will be made clear in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a flat work ironer constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 shows in sectional side elevation, one of the bearing pressure device utilized in the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows in front elevation a padded roll ironer equipped with pressure devices in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of pressure applying means. r

Fig. 5 shows another modification of pressure applying means.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the machine shown in Fig. 1 comprises a frame member 1 which supports a plurality of bearings 2 slidably mounted for vertical movement in guide ways 3, forming part of the frame 1. Supported by each bearing 2 is a shaft at carrying an ironing roll 5 which cooperates with a chest 7. Each bearingQ has cooperating therewith a pressure device 6. The bearing and pressure device are illustrated more clearly in Fig. 2 wherein the shaft 4 is shown passing through a bearing block 2 slidably mounted in the channel 3, and pressing against the top side thereof, is the pressure device 6. This pressure device comprises a metal bellows 8 which may be of the sylphon type, having bearing plates 9 attached to the two ends thereof. The upper bearing plate is threaded to accommodate a fluid pressure pipe 10 which connects through a T 11 with a manifold 12. The manifold 12 as shown in Fig. 1 interconnects with all of the bearing pressure devices in common, and is supplied with fluid under pressure from a source 13. The manifold is connected with the source through a flexible pipe 14, and a conduit 15. The flexible pipe is provided so that the rolls 5 may be lifted away from the chest 22 when the machine is not in use, to prevent burning of padding which may be on the roll.

The fluid source may be air under pressure in which case air may be supplied by a compressor 16 driven from the main drive shaft 17 of the machine by means of a belt or other connection 18. lVhere a suitable separate source of air is available, the compressor 16 may be dispensed with. A liquid such as oil or glycerine may be used instead of air in which case the pressure might be gm supplied from a source comprising a metal bellows 19 placed under pressure by a weight 20 as indicated in Fig. \Veight 20 might be arranged to exert different pressure on the bellows by means of a lever arrangenlent 21, or the pressure might be varied by changing the size of the weight. \Vith this type of system, no compresser is necessary because of the fact that as the metal bellows and pipe lines are absolutely 3a fluid tight, there would be no loss of pres sure.

A pressure device in accordance with my lnvention may be utllized with a plural roll flat work lroner of the type lllustrated '11'1 Fig. 1 wherein the pressure applied to eacl end of the rolls can be maintained constant. The arrangementmay likewise be used with any type of ironing machine, for example. a single padded roll type as indicated in Fig. 3 wherein the pressure applied to each end of the roll is made the same. The invention might also be applied to any type of machinery wherein uniform pressure at each end of a roll is desired. By utilizing metal bellows in accordance with my invention, absolutely equal pressure either at each end of a single roll or a plurality of rolls is insured regardless of the vertical position of the roll with respect to the cooperation working surface. This effect is not possible where spriiigs are used because of the fact that it is very difficult to obtain a plurality of springs which olfer the same resistance for a given degree of compression.

I If desirable, the expanding bellows may be used with externally applied pressure as illustrated in Fig. In this figure, reference numeral 23 indicates a metal bellows surrounded by a casing 2% provided with a ;pipe connection 25 through which the fluid under pressure may be applied. T ie casing is fastened by screws 35 to a perforated plate 26 carrying a guide 27 through which passes a plunger 28 connected to the bel- 'lows at 29 and pressing against the bearing 30 at 31. The casing 24: is held in position by a clamping ring 32 and studs 33, which secures the whole structure to the frame of the machine. The bearing 30 supports the shaft 34 of the ironing roll. this type of device, pressure is applied outside of the bellows rather than inside.

I have described a particular embodiment of my invention for the purpose of illustration, but it will be understood that the invention is capable of variations, modifications and adaptations without a departure from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

hat I claim is:

1. In a bearing device for an ironing machine, a frame, a bearing slidably positioned in said frame, an abutment connected to said frame, an expansiblc metal bellows positioned between the abutment and said hearing, and means for applying pressure to said bellows.

2. In a hearing device for an ironing machine, a frame, a bearing movably positioned in said frame, an abutment connected to said frame and an expansible bellows po sitioned between said abutment and said bearing, said abutment comprising a housing for said bellows.

3. In a bearing device for an ironing machine. a frame, a bearing slidably positioned in said frame, a housing fastened to said frame and an expansible bellows positioned. within said housing and against said bearing.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 22nd day of Jan, 1929.

LE ROY C. SCHENCK.

With 

